In an article published in the Theatre Historical Society of America quarterly magaizine ‘Marquee’ Vol 18 No 3 Third Quarter 1986>>>>>>> I quote;
‘Designed by R.E. Hall of New York and C.C. Hook of Charlotte, architects and engineers, the Carolina had 900 seats in the orchestra and 550 in the balcony. The design was generally Spanish Renaissance. The first note of this Spanish design came with the box office of wrought iron (In its press releases of the day Paramount-Publix heralded the Spanish design as one of most appropriate for Southern theatres.) the fixtures throughout the auditorium were also constructed from wrought iron as well as wood and leather. Spanish (and Italian) pottery, terra cotta jars, wrought iron lantern top torches old brass and copper jugs, reproductions of old paintings, mirrors and seemingly endless drapes made all parts of Charlotte’s Carolina a feast for the eyes.
Opened on 7th March 1927, this house became the centerpiece of the North Carolina operations of the Paramount-Publix chain. It served as such until the late 1960’s. It closed in 1978.'
From
‘Chronicling the Carolinas’ Theatres by Jim Lewallen and Douglas Gomery
Additional information;
The Carolina Theatre was equipped with a Barton theatre pipe organ which was opened by Faye Wilcox. In the 1950’s the organ was played by Clarence Etters who was musical director at radio station WBT & WBT-TV. After that the organ went silent.
The Fox Uptown Theatre opened on 29th December 1925 with a first-run feature film “Graustark” starring Norma Talmadge and Eugene O'Brien. On stage was Charlie Nelson and His Playboys.
The Skandia opened on 20th September 1923. A Wurlitzer 2 Manual/7 Rank theatre organ was installed in 1926, opened by Willard Ringstrand. The organ was later moved to Stockholm Town Hall.
The Skandia was re-named Look from 1968 and had its seating capacity reduced to 687.
My source of information is “American Theatres of Today” Vol 1 by R.W. Sexton & B.F. Betts Published 1927.
Pages 110 and 111 have architect plans and a photo of the auditorium side wall & balcony front looking back from the front of the orchestra level. Credited are R.E. Hall & Co Inc Architects and Engineers.
In the same publication R.E. Hall & Co Inc are credited as Architects and Engineers of the Florida Theater, Jacksonville, FL but in the case of the Eastman Theater, Rochester. NY other architects and associate architects take the credit and R.E. Hall & Co Inc are listed as being consulting engineers.
Bard’s Hill Street Theatre opened on the 12th October 1920. The architect was Albert C. Martin and a seating capacity of 700 is quoted, although this sounds more than there actually were. The opening bill was “The Fortune Teller” starring Marjorie Rambeau and a Buster Keaton comedy “One Week”.
Lou Bard and Fred Miller organised the Far West Theatres Company in 1924 and the Hill St house became part of the chain. It was renamed the Town Theatre for many years until being re-named the Pussycat in 1970.
The Art Theatre opened in June 1918. Art and foreign films were screen and large leather loge seats were located in the last six rows of the narrow auditorium. Western and actions films were presented in the 1930’s, 1940’s and 1950’s with an admission price of 15c. From 1984 adult porno films were screened almost ‘non-stop’, the theatre only closing for two hours a day for cleaning.
The Monterey Theatre opened in the 1920’s, located on the corner of Whittier Blvd and S. Soto St, it presented English language films up until 1965. By the early 1980’s it was known as Teatro Blanquita presenting on the stage, ‘Adult Only’ burlesque shows direct from Mexico City.
The Las Palmas Theatre sustained serious damage in a fire early in March 1977. It was obviously repaired and continued to operate. It originally opened in the late 1930’s.
The San Carlos Theater in the Lincoln Heights area of Los Angeles opened on 2nd July 1926. The architect was Lewis A. Smith (L.A. Smith). It was originally operated by West Coast Theaters.
The Manchester Theater was considered a major neighborhood house and for some years it was the ‘break-in’ house for Francheon & Marco ‘Ideas’ shows before they travelled downtown to the Loews State Theater, where they ‘opened’ minus any mistakes.
I have record of an opening date for the Manchester Theater being 30th January 1926.
The Fox Florence Theater opened on 8th April 1932 with Leo Carrillo and Lupe Valez staring in “The Broken Wing”.
Corrections required to the headers for this theater:
I have never heard of Architect; S. Charles Lee working with the Firm; Rapp & Rapp. The Architectural Style should read; Spanish Colonial Revival. There was only one balcony in the theater.
The Peninsula Theater opened on 12th October 1926. On screen was Norma Shearer in “Upstage”. Charlie Chase appeared ‘in person’ and the Robert-Morton theatre organ was played by Elbert LaChelle and Elmer Vincent. Milt Franklin and his “Musical Aristocats” were the house band.
David;
The book you refer to is titled “The Best Remaining Seats” – The Story of the Golden Age of the Movie Palace by Ben M. Hall Published by Bramhall House in 1961
It has ben re-printed a couple of times since then and there are copies to be found in 2nd hand book stores and on the internet.
I have never been to the Tivoli, or St Louis for that matter, but I take your points.
I have a copy of the theatre guide for St Louis published by the Theatre Historical Society of America for their 1984 Conclave to the city. I quote from that;
Tivoli
Opened: 1924
Seats: 1,900 (Eh?)
Interesting Facts: The theatre is a victim of a horrendous 1960’s remodeling job. The original organ screens and decorative plaster are behind the present screen. The dressing rooms have graffiti from vaudeville actors from the 1920's
Present Status: exhibits art and foreign films
As I said, this was a 1984 record of the Tivoli by THSA.
You will be pleased to know that the Film Daily Yearbook, 1950 had a reduced seating capacity given as 1,313. I know these figures cannot be, and should never be taken as ‘gospel truth’.
In an article published in the Theatre Historical Society of America quarterly magaizine ‘Marquee’ Vol 18 No 3 Third Quarter 1986>>>>>>> I quote;
‘Designed by R.E. Hall of New York and C.C. Hook of Charlotte, architects and engineers, the Carolina had 900 seats in the orchestra and 550 in the balcony. The design was generally Spanish Renaissance. The first note of this Spanish design came with the box office of wrought iron (In its press releases of the day Paramount-Publix heralded the Spanish design as one of most appropriate for Southern theatres.) the fixtures throughout the auditorium were also constructed from wrought iron as well as wood and leather. Spanish (and Italian) pottery, terra cotta jars, wrought iron lantern top torches old brass and copper jugs, reproductions of old paintings, mirrors and seemingly endless drapes made all parts of Charlotte’s Carolina a feast for the eyes.
Opened on 7th March 1927, this house became the centerpiece of the North Carolina operations of the Paramount-Publix chain. It served as such until the late 1960’s. It closed in 1978.'
From
‘Chronicling the Carolinas’ Theatres by Jim Lewallen and Douglas Gomery
Additional information;
The Carolina Theatre was equipped with a Barton theatre pipe organ which was opened by Faye Wilcox. In the 1950’s the organ was played by Clarence Etters who was musical director at radio station WBT & WBT-TV. After that the organ went silent.
The Town Theatre closed (as the Pussycat) in September 1985.
The Oriental Theatre (former Granada Theatre) closed in January 1985.
The Fox Uptown Theatre opened on 29th December 1925 with a first-run feature film “Graustark” starring Norma Talmadge and Eugene O'Brien. On stage was Charlie Nelson and His Playboys.
Sorry getting cross-eyed here staring at the screen The Finsbury Pary Astoria (Rainbow Theatre) link should be /theaters/1243/
The Skandia opened on 20th September 1923. A Wurlitzer 2 Manual/7 Rank theatre organ was installed in 1926, opened by Willard Ringstrand. The organ was later moved to Stockholm Town Hall.
The Skandia was re-named Look from 1968 and had its seating capacity reduced to 687.
Patsy:
My source of information is “American Theatres of Today” Vol 1 by R.W. Sexton & B.F. Betts Published 1927.
Pages 110 and 111 have architect plans and a photo of the auditorium side wall & balcony front looking back from the front of the orchestra level. Credited are R.E. Hall & Co Inc Architects and Engineers.
In the same publication R.E. Hall & Co Inc are credited as Architects and Engineers of the Florida Theater, Jacksonville, FL but in the case of the Eastman Theater, Rochester. NY other architects and associate architects take the credit and R.E. Hall & Co Inc are listed as being consulting engineers.
Bard’s Hill Street Theatre opened on the 12th October 1920. The architect was Albert C. Martin and a seating capacity of 700 is quoted, although this sounds more than there actually were. The opening bill was “The Fortune Teller” starring Marjorie Rambeau and a Buster Keaton comedy “One Week”.
Lou Bard and Fred Miller organised the Far West Theatres Company in 1924 and the Hill St house became part of the chain. It was renamed the Town Theatre for many years until being re-named the Pussycat in 1970.
The Art Theatre opened in June 1918. Art and foreign films were screen and large leather loge seats were located in the last six rows of the narrow auditorium. Western and actions films were presented in the 1930’s, 1940’s and 1950’s with an admission price of 15c. From 1984 adult porno films were screened almost ‘non-stop’, the theatre only closing for two hours a day for cleaning.
The Monterey Theatre opened in the 1920’s, located on the corner of Whittier Blvd and S. Soto St, it presented English language films up until 1965. By the early 1980’s it was known as Teatro Blanquita presenting on the stage, ‘Adult Only’ burlesque shows direct from Mexico City.
The Highland Theater opened on 5th March 1925 and Norma Shearer made a personal appearance.
The Las Palmas Theatre sustained serious damage in a fire early in March 1977. It was obviously repaired and continued to operate. It originally opened in the late 1930’s.
The Apollo Theater (later Star Theatre) was burnt out by fire in December 1976. It dated from the First World War period.
The San Carlos Theater in the Lincoln Heights area of Los Angeles opened on 2nd July 1926. The architect was Lewis A. Smith (L.A. Smith). It was originally operated by West Coast Theaters.
The Belmont Theater opened on 2nd March 1926. For a several years it operated as a legit stage theatre before returning to movies.
The Manchester Theater was considered a major neighborhood house and for some years it was the ‘break-in’ house for Francheon & Marco ‘Ideas’ shows before they travelled downtown to the Loews State Theater, where they ‘opened’ minus any mistakes.
I have record of an opening date for the Manchester Theater being 30th January 1926.
The Carmel Theater opened on 19th November 1924. The architect was Lewis A. Smith (L.A. Smith) and was built for West Coast Theaters.
When operating as a successful adult movie house (re-named the Paris Theatre) it was seriously damaged by fire in January 1976 and was demolished.
The Fox Florence Theater opened on 8th April 1932 with Leo Carrillo and Lupe Valez staring in “The Broken Wing”.
Corrections required to the headers for this theater:
I have never heard of Architect; S. Charles Lee working with the Firm; Rapp & Rapp. The Architectural Style should read; Spanish Colonial Revival. There was only one balcony in the theater.
The Peninsula Theater opened on 12th October 1926. On screen was Norma Shearer in “Upstage”. Charlie Chase appeared ‘in person’ and the Robert-Morton theatre organ was played by Elbert LaChelle and Elmer Vincent. Milt Franklin and his “Musical Aristocats” were the house band.
The Fox Burlingame Theater (formally Peninsula Theater) was closed in 1974.
Opened as the Lincoln-Dixie Theater on 23rd June 1921 it featured both movies and vaudeville.
The Lincoln Theater was demolished in February 1972 after standing vacant for several years and suffering a fire which had gutted the interior.
David;
The book you refer to is titled “The Best Remaining Seats” – The Story of the Golden Age of the Movie Palace by Ben M. Hall Published by Bramhall House in 1961
It has ben re-printed a couple of times since then and there are copies to be found in 2nd hand book stores and on the internet.
I have never been to the Tivoli, or St Louis for that matter, but I take your points.
I have a copy of the theatre guide for St Louis published by the Theatre Historical Society of America for their 1984 Conclave to the city. I quote from that;
Tivoli
Opened: 1924
Seats: 1,900 (Eh?)
Interesting Facts: The theatre is a victim of a horrendous 1960’s remodeling job. The original organ screens and decorative plaster are behind the present screen. The dressing rooms have graffiti from vaudeville actors from the 1920's
Present Status: exhibits art and foreign films
As I said, this was a 1984 record of the Tivoli by THSA.
You will be pleased to know that the Film Daily Yearbook, 1950 had a reduced seating capacity given as 1,313. I know these figures cannot be, and should never be taken as ‘gospel truth’.
Thanks Charles. Just trying to give a perpective on the size of the building, being it had no seating capacity given here, until I posted it.
Correction:
The Cinema Treasures listing for the Century is /theaters/7356